My Piedmont and Oakland Real Estate Adventures. History, Architecture and Homes

Whether you are selling a Montclair view home, or an cozy Oakland bungalow, you want to create instant appeal for potential buyers.  No matter how handsome your home is on the inside, if the outside creates a poor initial impression, buyers will never want to see the inside.  With the advent of websites listing homes for sale in every area, they are going to drive right by your home well before they put it on a list for viewing, so be prepared for them.

Many of the suggestions below do not cost a great deal of money. The most difficult part in this process is to step away from your home, and view it as a neighbor or future buyer might see it for the very first time, and be willing to accept that changes may have to be made to sell the home.  If you can do that, you are on your way to success.  Here are some suggestions to get you going:

1. Have An Attractive Approach To Your Front Door--Clean up the walkway to your door.  Fix or replace cracked paving stones, and remove weeds between them.  Sweep, rake and weed everywhere.  Remove all dead, outdated or overgrown plants, prune trees as needed, and gather and remove all debris from under each.  Go to your local nursery and get attractive flowers and plants to create a colorful and appealing appearance to your home.  

 2. Freshen Up Your Porch, Front Door and Shutters--This is another inexpensive way to create instant eye appeal. One option is to  paint the door and shutters appealing and complimentary colors to freshen up the front of your home.  Consider painting the porch trim to further the image.  Do a bit of research to see what an attractive new door would cost that might match your home's design.  Add new and stylish house numbers, or a handsome outdoor lamp.  There is so much information available now from home improvement stores to assist you-why not take advantage of the help?  

3.Use the Internet To Make Plans and To Save Money--Research what kinds of changes you will want to make. Make a plan for these changes, and prioritize your steps. Additionally, tour your neighborhood to see what things have been done by others that appeal to you, and seem to fit your house's design.  By doing this, you will be able to see what  works, and what does not, and that can be an effective money saver.  If some plants or bushes are not growing well, or exteriors look cheap, you will be able to determine that, and not make the same mistake.  Use every opportunity to discover the competitive sales that go on each weekend among the various home improvement centers.  With your plan in place, you will be able to move ahead quickly as discount opportunities arise.  

These steps, implemented in an organized manner, can make your home stand out from your competition, and gain the attention that you want.   

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